Stanford men's basketball must keep maturing

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP

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In this photo taken Oct. 25, 2011, Stanford's Dwight Powell, right, dribbles as teammate Robbie Lemons defends during their NCAA basketball practice in Stanford, Calif. Stanford finished 15-16 last season and 7-11 in conference play, good for seventh in the league. If Stanford hopes to break away from the middle of the pack, it will have to make strides with many of the same players. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Ran on: 11-09-2011
Dwight Powell, a returning starter for Stanford, needs to provide more scoring. less

In this photo taken Oct. 25, 2011, Stanford's Dwight Powell, right, dribbles as teammate Robbie Lemons defends during their NCAA basketball practice in Stanford, Calif. Stanford finished 15-16 last season and ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP

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In this photo taken Oct. 25, 2011, Stanford's Anthony Brown practices shooting free throws during their NCAA basketball practice in Stanford, Calif. Stanford finished 15-16 last season and 7-11 in conference play, good for seventh in the league. If Stanford hopes to break away from the middle of the pack, it will have to make strides with many of the same players. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Ran on: 11-09-2011
Anthony Brown, who made the Pac-10's All-Freshman team last season, played in the Under-19 World Championships. less

In this photo taken Oct. 25, 2011, Stanford's Anthony Brown practices shooting free throws during their NCAA basketball practice in Stanford, Calif. Stanford finished 15-16 last season and 7-11 in conference ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP

Stanford men's basketball must keep maturing

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The six ducklings are a year older, but whether Stanford's greater experience translates to improvement in the Pac-12 standings will depend on how much firepower the Cardinal can muster.

Head coach Johnny Dawkins' large 2010 incoming class had talent but not a lot of bulk. When it comes to matching girth with people such as UCLA's 6-foot-10, 305-pound Joshua Smith or Oregon State's 6-7, 280-pound Joe Burton, the Cardinal looked anemic.

They have been picked to finish sixth in the expanded conference and will rely on last season's All-Freshman team picks Anthony Brown (8.7 points per game) and Dwight Powell (8.1) to increase their scoring.

"Last year, our young kids got meaningful minutes," Dawkins said. "That helped our guys grow. But I also understand that the bulk of those kids are still sophomores."

Last season, the Cardinal finished 7-11 (tied for seventh in the Pac-10) and 15-16 overall without a senior on the roster. All-Pac-10 junior guard Jeremy Green, the team's leading scorer (16.7), left school for an uncertain future in the pros.

The pressure will be on senior forward Josh Owens to provide the leadership and rebounding. The leading returning scorer at 11.6 points per game, he led the team on the boards (6.5) after missing the 2009-10 season because of an undisclosed medical condition.

Stanford ranked second in defense in the conference last season and will need to maintain that toughness as it tries to avoid its fourth straight second-division finish. Dawkins, in his fourth season, knows his team will have a hard time overcoming UCLA, Arizona, Cal and Washington, but a more balanced offense should help.

"I think we'll be a better defensive team," Dawkins said. "We have the potential to be a better offensive team, too. We won't have the same look we had last year.

"We had a focal point in Jeremy. We don't have that luxury. Because of that, we'll do it more by committee. I don't think you'll see one guy lead us in scoring 20 games out of 31" (as Green did).

The addition of freshman guard Chasson Randle, the lone recruit this year, finally gives Dawkins a player who can create off the dribble as well as hit shots from the outside. Randle probably will split time initially with sophomore Aaron Bright. Jarrett Mann, who had to play the point last season out of necessity, moves to shooting guard.

Mann is an excellent defensive player but a poor outside shooter, so the 2-guard spot might fall to Bright, junior Gabriel Harris or Brown, a swingman with a nice shooting stroke. Brown played for the United States in the Under-19 World Championships in Latvia over the summer.

Last year's freshman class also included 6-11 Stefan Nastic, who played only five games before being sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot. John Gage, a 6-9 sophomore, needs to add an inside presence to his fine outside shooting. Forward Josh Huestis is still looking for a role.

Nastic should provide board power with senior big men Jack Trotter, who was elected president of Stanford's senior class, and hustling Andrew Zimmerman.

Thursday: What to expect from Stanford and Cal women

Friday: Previews of St. Mary's, USF and Santa Clara men

3 keys

1. Offensive consistency: The Cardinal scored fewer than 60 points for seven consecutive games around midseason.

2. Sustained aggression: Dwight Powell must maintain his aggressiveness on the offensive end. It was on and off last season.

3. Court leader:Freshman Chasson Randle needs to be the playmaker and organizer the team badly needs - and to provide some outside shooting.

Notes: x - NIT Season Tip-Off. First and second-round games at Maples Pavilion on Nov. 14 and 15. Location to be determined for consolation games Nov. 21 and 22. Semifinals and final Nov. 23 and 25 in New York. Stanford will play in either the consolation games or the two in New York.

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